Program Fee FAQ

UPDATE ON PROGRAM FEES 2017:

MISSION: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix empowers young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible members of the community.

VISION: We provide premier out-of-school-time programs for youth to develop their skills and resilience to successfully navigate childhood and prepare for adulthood.

OVERVIEW: Recent increases to Arizona’s minimum wages required the Clubs to look at our program fee structure and update it. We will continue to provide your children with outstanding programs, delivered by caring, trained adults in facilities that are safe and fun.

A school-year program fee of $25 per month will be implemented effective September 2017.

While this new fee will not cover the actual costs of the programming, staff, facilities, and family services that we provide, it will help our organization deliver the highest quality care for families around the Valley, and allow us to update the salaries and wages we pay our talented staff to stay competitive in the market. Doing so also alleviates the need to make any significant changes to our services.

For a child paying by semester, this averages to just about $1 per day.

Summary:

Annual Membership Dues:

$30 per child (6-12 years old)

Monthly School Year Fee:

$25 per member, due on the first day of the month

Summer Day Camp Fees:

$60 per week

Annual Teen Membership:

$15 per member and no additional monthly charges

For families with more than one child in the programs, there are multiple family discounts. We have a sliding fee scale for families, based upon financial need and proof of income, to ensure that our programs will be accessible for our kids. Limited scholarships are also available.

We haven’t paid school year program fees in the past. Why did you start charging program fees now? [return to list]

With the 2016 voter-approved changes in Arizona’s minimum wage, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix had to adjust our salaries for staff members to meet and exceed these requirements. The minimum wage scale will adjust for the next few years, and we must remain competitive to attract quality, talented, and caring staff.

We haven’t updated our fee structure for many years and this new law forced us to look at the true costs of services and staff, leading to an increase in fees. These adjustments will allow BGCMP to continue to grow and provide the best staff and programs for your children.

Yes! Based on feedback from parents and from our internal team, we know how important extended hours and school break care are for our families. An increase in fees allows us to continue our excellent program model without any significant changes to our hours of operation.

How did you decide on how much to charge? Is my Club still a good value? [return to list]

This $25 monthly fee does not cover the full costs of programs, daily snacks and meals, trained staff and safe facilities; but, it will help our organization continue to provide outstanding programs for our families.

Put simply, this will average out to about $1 per day, per child and less for those who are eligible for financial assistance.

We spent months surveying other youth programs in our communities, and then determined a fee structure that will continue to be affordable for our families. Few, if any, other out-of-school options provide the academic enrichment, recreation, healthy lifestyle, and leadership opportunities we offer. With these updates, we will remain one of the most affordable out-of-school-time programs, delivering quality enrichment opportunities for your children.

Beyond the program days, our Clubs offer families so many unique opportunities and benefits such as: parent/youth Club activities, agency referrals, parent education scholarships and so much more! We hope that you and your family will take advantage of more of these programs in the future!

The new fees will help BGCMP offset the increases to our employment and operational costs.

Our caring, trained adult staff deliver outstanding youth development opportunities that include: education, recreation, leadership and character development, life skills, and more. We are able to provide healthy snacks and meals for our kids every day and programs that will help build your kids into strong, resilient adults.

We want our programs to be the highest quality out-of-school-time programs for your kids and still be affordable. To do that, we have created a sliding fee scale for families needing financial assistance, based on their income. BGCMP is committed to providing Club opportunities to as many families as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out and talk with your Club staff. They are here to help you.

Can I just pay for the months when I need it (ie: rec leagues and holiday breaks)? [return to list]

Yes. If your child has current Club membership, you can sign up for the months you want to have your kids with us. If you want your child in Club for fall break in October, you will pay $25 for the full month. We don’t pro-rate those monthly fees. (Parents are eligible for discounts, if they are eligible for the sliding scale fees.)

This new fee structure will begin in September 2017 to coincide with the beginning of the BGCMP fiscal year and Fall registration. Members will be charged $25 per month, based on family size, at the beginning of each month during the school year. There are opportunities for discounts if parents/guardians wish to pay by the semester or school year; and there are discounts for families with more than one child in the programs. There will be no new program fees for Teen members.

BGCMP will not assess the monthly program fee in August. For new members, this will be a great opportunity for you to try our Clubs and see if it’s a fit for your family. You can join the Club in September, pay the annual membership fee and monthly dues then. Current members will not pay any monthly program fees in August and your membership will renew in September.

BGCMP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetics, veteran or disability status. Furthermore, BGCMP does not discriminate on the basis of familial status. www.AZRelay.org or 7-1-1.